Thunderbird Club

[Miles_ONeal]

Peter’s feeling better after getting some meds
View attachment 4950362

Ahem!
(And huzzah!)

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I kinda wish I hadn't let that ACC 408 cabinet go. 4 15s. I think they were EVs, but don't remember. With a 320 head, that was a great sounding stack. I sometimes wonder if I should have let the 360 stack go instead.

Water under the bridge.


Dry that bass out, dude!

 

[PhR75]

One release I didn't buy on time was the recently released 8CD box of "Live And Dangerous" and it seems it's already sold out. Contains all the shows the original album was compiled from plus the original album and judging from what I've been listening on Spotify it's just marvellous. It's been said or even exaggerated that the original album was overdubbed to death to the point of drums being the only thing live but that is just bull.
I wish they would release at least two shows separately, from '76 and '77. Or print another run when I have more money.



A window selfie at backstage from yesterday's gig. I'm sulking because of the Lizzy box...

 

[JIO]

Good evening Thunderbird loving sisters and brothers, and a belated happy Friday. Some of the folks in my Middle Eastern/Mediterranean band are starting another project to play some rock and blues. One of the songs I have been asked to learn is the old Stones tune, Sympathy for the devil. I have found this song to be surprisingly challenging. I don't often play with a pick, but this song seems to call for it. In the past I have used a thick felt pick,, but the firm plastic seems better for this song. I found it a bit easier on my Thunderbird than my 5 string Jazz, but still a challenge. Any advice on how to make this song work would be greatly appreciated. Have a great weekend folks!

Hah! I played this song in my High School combo! Back then (as a teen) I had no clue of nuance or 'feel, so most likely I played the roots as best I could. Listening to it as I type, @Count Bassie's insights are spot-on. Bill Wyman is taking a lot of liberties on this song - he's rockin' it as he feels it. He covers the roots for sure, but he's pushing the song forward with his driving articulation. Tone wise, it sounds like a hollow-body through a big 15" or 18" speaker - woody/wooly/bassy. (flats for sure) Might have the bridge muted or is using palm-muting to keep it plunky. Remember BW also played double-bass, so he's "old-school" favoring an acoustic bass tone even on electric bass guitar.

Any pick that allows you articulation is what you want - experiment with all shapes and thicknesses until you find one that works for you. Get loose, let it flow - fill the song with bass - that's what BW did.

 

[PhR75]

"Sympathy" is Keith on bass. In the video from recording/writing session he plays a P-bass on it.

 

[MCF]

Update on the string change:
I brought my NR with the new GHS Bass Boomers on it to practice on monday. They did sound better than the stock strings, but I'm still missing the full-on aggressive mid-thrust I'm used to from my P with the Curtis Novak PB-90 (that pickup is gold). It does sound great, but there is quite a bit of mid scoop and boomy lows going on, so it's not really cutting through. Yeah, I know, the bird is not a P at all, but after my pre-buy research, I felt assured it would be fuller sounding and more mid-forward than this. It's no disaster, not at all, but I did switch back to my P mid-practice and had much more fun.

So: is the pickup position the main problem, as was suggested earlier, or could I get closer to what I want with a more mid-focused pickup? I was thinking about reaching out to Curtis Novak to hear if he can make a pickup that sounds close to the PB-90, but in a TB housing. On the other hand, I'll gladly save the few hundred bucks and work with what I have if a pickup swap is futile.

Do you use a high pass filter?

 

[MCF]

This is off the 1st Wilco recording that Nels played on. Never heard Wilco before this recording. Couldn't imagine what they sounded like w/o Nels.

They were great before Nels. Give Yankee Hotel Foxtrot a listen. Wilco went through a lot of members before Nels joined in ‘04. The lineup has been stable ever since.

 

[MCF]

Well, I guess I'm out again, for a bit

I spent my current fun money on this...

View attachment 4947624

Subway ultra lite 115

Back to the fun money pit

Congratulations on the new cab DJ! Stick around and let us talk you into that Tbird you know you want.

 

[MCF]

I saw Trower at Madison Square Garden with Wishbone Ash and also opening for Jethro Tull at Shae Stadium both around '76

I saw them, but can’t for the life of me remember with who. But it could have been Tull.

 

[PhR75]

I saw them, but can’t for the life of me remember with who. But it could have been Tull.

They also played with King Crimson in '74. Trower and Fripp were friends.

 

[MCF]

Here's my OCD kicking in.
You've really got to ditch that sticker.

His straps look nice.

 

[MCF]

WBW
(with brann-noo speed knobs)

View attachment 4947951

I like the Goth PG on it. It would look cool with a Blackbird logo as well.

 

[MCF]

Try switching the pickup wires. See if the dead one follows.

At this point, he ought to just rip it and its volume pot out, fill the holes and refinish the top to make a rare VP II.

 

[MCF]

you know, you never know... you know?

 

[Haans]

Do you use a high pass filter?

No. Should I?

 

[MCF]

I know of it, just never listened to it. I've never been a Wilco fan. I saw them on Nels' first tour with them and it was an amazing concert. I'll have to listen to it soon! Their bass-player is pretty good also!

John Stirratt is as underrated a bassist as there is. He’s been with Tweedy from the beginning.

 

[MCF]

Do you know what 15 is installed?

This.
Speaker - 15" Subway Neo 400 - 400 watt - 8 ohm
Here’s the cab info. These are probably the best selling cabs in the industry right now. They have a hard time keeping up with the demand for them.
Mesa/Boogie | 1x15 Subway Bass

 

[MCF]

No, but probably something good, maybe FAITAL PRO.

You are correct.

 

[MCF]

View attachment 4948267 Got these Bartolini Tbird PUs from the TB Classifieds:
The bridge pu seems like it will be hot.

Might try them in my J:
View attachment 4948266

That would probably sound amazing.

 

[MCF]

It seems to be this one...

Speaker - 15" Subway Neo 400 - 400 watt - 8 ohm

Beat me to it.